Bank construction



1966 w. R. HOHMANN 7 3,230,912

BANK CONSTRUCTION Filed April 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/Gl \-/ I III/1m Z2 45; I

INVENTOR. WILLIAM R. HOHMANN 7QZOXQQ A TTORNE Y Jan. 25, 1966 w. R. HOHMANN 3,230,912

BANK CONSTRUCTION Filed April 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM R. HOHMANN A 7' TOR/VE Y United States Patent 3,230,912 BANK CONSTRUQTION William R. Hohmann, 3'74 Wethersfield Ave, Hartford, Conn. Filed Apr. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 358,450 7 Claims. (Cl. 10920) The present invention relates to bank constructions and more particularly to constructions incorporating devices for banks and the like.

In protecting banks from armed robbery, great care must be taken to prevent injury to customers and other by-standers, as well as to avoid unnecessary exposure of tellers and other bank personnel to injury by the felon. Moreover, it is highly desirable that any means used to neutralize a bank robber not iniiict excessive or permanent injury in order to avoid tragic mistakes and to spare the robber for police interrogation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel, effective bank protective construction for neutralizing or identifying a bank robber with a minimum of risk of injury to innocent persons.

It is also an object to provide such a device which has a spatially localized area of effectiveness and which may be readily activated by bank personnel.

Still another obiect is to provide such a device which is relatively inexpensive in component of cost and installation and which is relatively inconspicuous to permit attractive, yet effective installations.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the follovw'ng detailed description and the attached drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a rear elevational view of a bank construction having a protection device embodying the present invention with a portion of the cover panel on the counter broken away to reveal internal construction.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view to a reduced scale of the construction of FIGURE 1; and diagrammatically illustrating discharging of chemical agents from the nozzles thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view to a reduced scale along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects may be readily attained in a protective construction for banks and the like which includes a counter be- =hind which a teller may stand, a nozzle directed forwardly of the counter towards the area where a patron may stand, a reservoir communicating with the nozzle, a chemical agent in the reservoir for discharging upon a felon and means for forcing the chemical agent through the nozzle towards a bank robber or other felon. The construction is provided with control means for releasing the chemical agent from the reservoir through the nozzle, which means is conveniently actuatable rearwardly of the counter by the teller.

The chemical agent may be designed to disable and render helpless the felon, and conveniently may be tear gas or an anesthetic such as ether or chloroform. The chemical agent may also be a dye solution or powder of a conspicuous color which sprays upon the felon to facilitate his detection if he should escape and may comprise or include ultra-violet absorbent or luminescent materials so that the felon may not be aware of his being so sprayed.

The forcing means may conveniently be a compressed gas although pumps may be employed albeit at greater expense. In the case of a gaseous chemical agent, the

compressed chemical agent itself may under sutlicient pressure be stored in a tank for controlled release through the nozzle. In the case of less volatile chemical agents such as ether and tear gas, the agent may be stored under pressure by incorporation of air or other gas such as trifluorochlorethylene under pressure within the container. In the case of a dye solution or powder, a tank of compressed air may be connected to a dye reservoir for controlled application of pressure thereint-o to force the dye through the nozzle. The control means may be an electrically operated valve interposed between the nozzle and the forcing means and may include a timing device for automatically stopping the flow of the chemical agent after a predetermined period of time of flow has elapsed. Alternatively, the valves may be metering valves to release only a predetermined quantity of pressurized fluid.

In a preferred installation, a disabling chemical agent is directed towards the head of the wrong-doer and an identifying chemical agent is directed towards his body. The valves may be operable only by the teller or may desirably be activated also from remote installations such as by a guard observing the entire floor.

The installation should also include means for transferring deposits and the like through the bullet resistant portion formed by the window and partition wall panels, conveniently a drawer which may be operated only by the teller to prevent passage therethrough of grenades or other means of assault. To enable speech transmission, means should be provided such as a speaker-microphone unit within the window preferably at about head height or somewhere about the window.

Referring now in detail to the attached drawings, therein illustrated is a typical bank tellers cage embodying a protective bank construction of the present invention which includes a counter generally designated by the numeral 2 and a tellers window 4 of bullet-resistant material which is supported within the frame or molding 6. To either side of the window 4 and its frame 6 are partition panels 8 of bullet-resistant material which extend upwardly from the counter to the cross-frame members 10. The counter 2 and the window 4 and partition panels 8 are dimensioned to extend above body height and cooperate to provide a bullet-resistant partition between the teller standing therebehind and a felon standing therebefore. To prevent possible discharge or tossing of ma terials over the window 4 and partition panels 8, a closure panel 12 desirably extends upwardly therefrom to the ceiling (not shown).

As will be readily appreciated, the counter 2 should also be of bullet-resistant construction, conveniently by use of a metallic front panel 14 and top 16 although masonry and other materials may be employed. The counter also includes a removable rear panel 18 and the conventional drawers for cash and the like (not shown). To maintain the bullet-resistant nature of the partition, deposits and the like are transferred therethrou-gh by a revolving bowl-like drawer 20 having a center divider 21 which is rotably supported in the top 16 at the juncture of the window 4 therewith. The drawer 20 is rotated by the electric motor 22. through the worm gear drive 24 to permit transfer of deposits and the like and the motor 22 is actuatable by the teller through a switch (not shown). The worm gear drive 24 prevents manual operation of the drawer 20 except by the teller.

To permit communication between patrons and the teller, a bullet-resistant speech transmitting device 25 such as a speaker-microphone unit is conveniently mounted in the window 4 at about head height. However, other means may be employed if so desired so long as the security of the partition is not materially reduced.

Extending about the sides and top of the window 4 forwardly thereof and preferably integrated Within the frame 6 for appearance is a manifold system or duct 28 having a multiplicity of nozzles or vents 3% which desirably focus or are directed upon an area forwardly of the speaker 26 as seen in FIGURE 2.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the manifold system 28 is seen to be connected by a supply duct 32 through the electrically operated control valve 34 to a reservoir or tank 35 containing a chemical agent under high pressure (not shown) such as ether or tear gas; for neutralizing a bank robber or other wrong-doer.

Mounted in the counter 2 below the speaker 26 is a large nozzle 33-which is directed forwardly of the counter 2 towards a person standing before the Window 4. The nozzle 38 is connected by a downwardly leading duct 40 to a sealed reservoir 4-2 which is filled with a chemical agent such as a liquid dye solution (not shown) and which is connected through the electrically operated controlvalve 44 to a tank 4-6 of compressed-air;

The valves 34 and 44 are opened and. controlled by the relay 48 which is activated by the push-button switch 59 in the tellers cage or by a remote switch (not shown) acting through the line 52. Most desirably the relay 48 is coupled with a timing device 459 to limit the period of discharge from the reservoirs 36, 42. To ensure adequate pressure for operation, the pressurized reservoir 35' and air tank 46 have gauges 54, 56 thereon which may be readily inspected, and the reservoir 36 and tank 46 may be removed and replaced readily or repressurized when so required.

In operation of the construction, the teller remains fully protected by the bullet-resistant partition and receives materials from patrons only by his rotating the drawer 20.

When menaced by a would-be robber, the teller, still protected by the bullet-resistant window 4 and panels 8, presses the button ft which activates the relay 4%, which, in turn, opens control valves 34 and 44'. The pressurized ether or tear gas in reservoir 36 rushes through the manifold system 28 and is focused by the nozzles 17 into a localized cloud 58 about the robbers head to render him temporarily helpless. Compressed air in the tank 46 forces the dye solution out of the reservoir 42 through the nozzle 38 in a spray 60 for. saturating the robber and dyeing him a conspicuous color, thereby rendering him more easily detectable if he should manage to escape. After a predetermined length of time sufiicient to discharge,v a disabling quantity of chemical agent and an adequate amount of dye solution, the automatic timing device 49 operates the relay 48 to shut off the valves fidand 44'. The operating elements of the construction may be readily dimensioned to require very little space, and the reservoirs 36,40 and tank 46, may be conveniently hidden from view by the removable rear wall panel 18 with the gauges flush mounted therein. The manifold system 38 and the nozzles may be inconspicuously mounted adjacent the inner margins of the frame 6 in order not to interfere with the overall decor of the bank interior and may be recessed or integrated therewithin. Similarly, the nozzle 38v may be rendered inconspicuous by the decor of the. counter and, in fact, may be a small orifice.

Thus it can. be seen that the present invention provides a protective construction for banks and the like which is extremely effective in neutralizing a would be bankrobher. The active components are relatively safe and, utilizes agents which overcome the robber without permanently injuring him, thereby minimizing risk of serious injury to by-standers. easily placed in operation by the bank teller or other bank personnel at remote locations, is relatively simple and The device may be quickly and inexpensive in construction, and may be readily installed with a minimum of alteration to typical existing structures.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A protective construction for banks and the like comprising a counter and Window behind which a teller may stand and in front of which a patron may stand; a plurality of nozzles directed forwardly of said counter toward the area where apatron stands; a first independent distribution system and reservoir communicating with one of said nozzles; a first chemical agent in said first reservoir for discharging upon and disabling a felon; a second in dependent distribution system and reservoir communicating with another of said nozzles; a second chemical agent in said second reservoir for discharging upon a felon; means for forcing said first chemical agent from said first reservoir through said one nozzle and said second chemical agent from said second reservoir through said other nozzle toward the felon; and control means for simultaneously releasing said chemical agentsthrough said nozzles, said control means being actuatable rearwardly of said counter.

2; The construction of claim 1 wherein said one nozzle is directed to the area in front of said window for providing a concentration of said first chemical agent about the-head of the felon, and said second chemical agent is a dye and said other nozzle. is directed to the area in front of said counter for dyeing the clothing of the felon.

3. The construction of claim 1 wherein said first chemical agent is stored under relatively high pressures in said first reservoir, and said control means includes an elec trically operated valve between said first reservoir and said one nozzle, the pressure in said first reservoir providing' said forcing means for said first chemical agent.

4. The construction of claim 1' wherein said forcing means for said second chemical agent is. provided by a source of compressed air connected to saidsecond reservoir, and wherein said control means includes an electrically operated valve between said second reservoir and said source of compressed air.

5. The construction of claim 1' wherein said. second independent distribution system" includes a manifold extending about the periphery of said window and wherein said-other nozzle is a plurality of nozzles in said manifold directed to the area in front of said window.

6: A protective construction for. banks and the like comprising a counter behind which a teller may stand and in front of which'a. patron may stand; a bullet-resistant window extending upwardly from said counter and having a speaking porttherein at about head level of a patron; a bullet-resistantspeaker mounted in said speaking port; means for transferring material fromione side of said counter to the other side thereof; a manifold extending about the periphery of said window; a plurality of nozzles mounted on said manifold and spaced about.

the periphery of' said window, said nozzles being directed to the. area in front of said speaking port; a first independent distribution. system and reservoir communicating with said manifold; a disabling chemical agent in said first reservoir for discharging upon and disabling a felon, said chemical agent being stored in said first reservoir under relatively high pressure; a first valve between said first reservoir and said manifold for releasing said chemical agent; a dye nozzle mounted below said speaking port in said counter and directed forwardly thereof; a second independent distribution system and reservoir communi eating with said dye nozzle; liquid dye in said second reservoir for discharging upon a felon; a pressure source communicating with said second reservoir for forcing said dye from said reservoir through said dye nozzle toward the felon; a second valve between said pressure source and said dye nozzle for releasing said dye; and control means actuatable rearwardly of said counter for opening and closing said first and second valves for providing a UNITED References Cited by the Examiner STATES PATENTS McDowell.

Green 109-20 X Anakin 109-2 McClees 109-20 X Hassey 109-19 McClun 109-32 Stadtler.

Searle 109-22 MuHen 109-19 Chlopecky 109-20 X Helsper 200-108 X HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

0 10 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner.

L. J. SANTISI, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PROTECTIVE CONSTRUCTION FOR BANKS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A COUNTER AND WINDOW BEHIND WHICH A TELLER MAY STAND AND IN FRONT OF WHICH A PATRON MAY STAND; A PLURALITY OF NOZZLES DIRECTED FORWARDLY OF SAID COUNTER TOWARD THE AREA WHERE A PATRON STANDS; A FIRST INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND RESERVOIR COMMUNICATING WITH ONE OF SAID NOZZLES; A FIRST CHEMICAL AGENT IN SAID FIRST RESERVOIR FOR DISCHARGING UPON AND DISABLING A FELON; A SECOND INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND RESERVOIR COMMUNICATING WITH ANOTHER OF SAID NOZZLES; A SECOND CHEMICAL AGENT IN SAID SECOND RESERVOIR FOR DISCHARGING UPON A FELON; MEANS FOR FORCING SAID FIRST CHEMICAL AGENT FROM SAID FIRST RESERVOIR THROUGH SAID ONE NOZZLE AND SAID SECOND CHEMICAL AGENT FROM SAID SECOND RESERVOIR THROUGH SAID OTHER NOZZLE TOWARD THE FELON; AND CONTROL MEANS 